TWI411962B - Mobile table for implementing clamshell-to-case association - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for associating traceability codes on clamshells with unique identifiers on containers in which the empty clamshells are packed for later use. In various methods, the clamshells are marked with traceability codes and stacked together, one traceability code is read from one of the clamshells in each stack, a unique identifier is read from a container, and the stack is placed in the container. The traceability code is stored in association with the unique identifier for later retrieval. An exemplary table for making clamshell-to-container associations comprises a scanner for reading traceability codes and rails for positioning stacks of clamshells proximate to the scanner. The table can also comprise a second scanner positioned to read unique identifiers from containers placed proximate thereto. The table can further comprise a computing system to make and store the associations.

Description

Mobile table for implementing the association of the open box to the container

The present application claims and incorporates the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/080,121, filed on Jul. 11, 2008, which is also entitled to "Mobile Table for Implementing Clamshell-to-Case Association" The present application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety by reference to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/970,933, filed on Sep. 7, 2007, entitled "Attributing Harvest Information with Unique Identifiers", and filed on February 2, 2008 No. 61/028, No. 163, entitled "Systems and Methods of Associating Individual Packages with Harvest Crates", and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/206,156, filed on September 8, 2008, and No. 12, filed on Feb. 12, 2009 /370,346 and also entitled "Attributing Harvest Information with Unique Identifiers" and "Systems and Methods of Associating Individual Packages with Harvest Crates".

The product is often packaged in a clamshell unit. These open boxes provide a standard commercial unit for retailers and restaurant operators, providing a labeling opportunity for trademark owners and facilitating customers. A split box is typically manufactured using a thermoforming process. After the split box is manufactured, the split boxes are usually nested together to save space and be stored in a large number of containers.

Adding traceability to project-level products requires placing a unique identifier on each package (eg, each open box). In some prior art embodiments, an inkjet system has been used for encoding. The problem of using inkjet systems to mark codes on split boxes and other packages includes: (a) inkjet systems require considerable maintenance costs; (b) encoding tends to be poorly printed and therefore difficult to read; c) A typical inkjet system cannot reliably print small barcodes and requires automatic scanning of barcodes, for example along the sales chain, in a store, or anywhere in a mobile phone configured with a code reader.

An exemplary method includes: reading a traceable code from a stack of a plurality of split boxes; reading a unique identification code disposed on a container; storing the opening from the stack The trackable code read by the box, the trackable code being associated with the unique identifier; and placing the stack within the container. In some embodiments, the method further comprises reading the traceable code from the split box using a first scanner disposed on a table, and in some such embodiments, the method further comprising using A second scanner disposed on the table reads the unique identifier from the container.

In some embodiments, prior to reading the traceable code, the method further includes printing a traceable code on each of the plurality of tags. In some such embodiments, the method further includes marking each of the plurality of split boxes with a traceable code by attaching one of the plurality of labels to each of the split boxes. In other embodiments, the method further includes, prior to reading the traceable code, for example by printing directly on the split boxes, marking each of the plurality of split boxes with a traceable code By. In still other embodiments, for example, some embodiments are described for marking each of the plurality of split boxes with the traceable code, the method further comprising nesting the plurality of marked open boxes together To form the stack. In some such embodiments, the method further includes reading a traceable code from each of the plurality of split boxes before nesting the plurality of split boxes. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: fabricating the plurality of split boxes; labeling the plurality of split boxes with a unique traceable code; reading from each of the plurality of split boxes The unique trackable code; and then nesting the plurality of split boxes.

Another exemplary method includes: marking each of a plurality of split boxes with a traceable code; and nesting the plurality of marked split boxes together to form a stack. The method further includes storing one of a correlation between the traceable code read from a split box of the stack and a unique identifier of a container and placing the stack within the container. For example, some embodiments further include reading the unique identifier from the container and determining a traceable code from the unique identifier, for example by reference to the unique identifier in a database.

In various embodiments, storing the association between the traceable code read from the open box of the stack and the unique identifier of the container comprises: the traceable code and the unique identification Upload to a host computing system. In some such embodiments, the method further includes reading a traceable code from the plurality of marked open boxes before nesting the plurality of marked open boxes. The method can further include uploading the traceable code read from each of the plurality of tagged split boxes to the host computing system; and from the plurality of tagged split boxes The traceable codes read by each of them are associated with the unique identifier. A further embodiment of the method further comprises: uploading harvest event data to the host computing system; and associating the harvest event data with the unique identifier of the container.

An exemplary table includes: a top surface; a side rail disposed on the top surface, the side rail extending adjacent to and substantially parallel to a front side of the top surface; and a lateral rail disposed at the side On the top surface, the transverse track is substantially perpendicular to the side track. The table also includes: a first scanner configured to read a trackable code on a split box, the first scanner being held against a first side of the lateral track; And a second scanner configured to read a unique identifier disposed on a container, the second scanner being disposed adjacent to the top surface. In some embodiments, the table is configured to be mobile. In some embodiments, the first scanner is disposed adjacent to a second side of the lateral track, wherein the second side is opposite the first side. In various embodiments, one of the directions of the first scanner and/or one of the directions of the second scanner is adjustable. The table can further include a calibration mark disposed on the side track. The table can further include a computing system having a processing component, the processing component including: configured to cause one of the unique identifiers read by the second scanner to be read by the first scanner Or logic associated with a plurality of traceable codes; and logic configured to store the association.

An exemplary system for associating a split box with a container, comprising: for consistently positioning a split box stack, each split box including a trackable coded member; and when The stacking system reads the traceable coded component from a split box of the stack when positioned by a component that consistently positions the stack. The system also includes means for reading a unique identifier from a container, and for storing a unique identifier read by the means for reading the unique identifier and for reading the A component that tracks one of the traceable codes read by the component of the code.

Another exemplary system for associating a split box with a container, comprising: a table comprising a first scanner and a second scanner; and a third scan in communication with the table Device. The table also includes a lateral track disposed on one of its top surfaces. The first scanner is configured to read a trackable code on a split box of a split box stack when the split box is held in the lateral track, and the second scan The device is configured to read a unique identifier disposed on a container that is disposed adjacent to the top surface. In various embodiments, the system further includes a labeling machine configured to adhere the label to the split box, and wherein the third scanner is configured to freely attach the labeling machine to the open box These tags read the traceable code. The system can also include either a split box maker and a host computing system. In such embodiments including the host computing system, the table can further include logic configured to upload traceable codes and unique identifiers to the host computing system. In some such embodiments, the host computing system includes association logic configured to associate the traceable code with a unique identifier and configured to store the associations.

The present invention is directed to systems and methods for associating traceable codes on a unit level package (e.g., on a split box) with a unique identifier of a container at which the package is deployed at a harvest event Store in the containers until they are to be filled. By making this association, one of the unit-level packages (each unit-level package has a unique traceable code) can be subsequently associated with the harvest event data for the harvest event, for example, by deploying at the harvest event The unique identifier of the container is then read, and then the unique identifier is associated with the harvest event data. It should be understood that while the embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to a split box for a product, the present invention is equally applicable to other unit level packages, such as cups, that can be nested to form a stack when empty.

Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to facilitating the fabrication of one of the tables associated with the open box to the container when the containers are filled with a split box. In some instances, the table is mobile such that the table can be easily moved between the open box production areas. The table includes two scanners, one scanner configured to read the traceable code from the open box, and the other scanner configured to read a unique identifier on the container that is placed adjacent to the container At the table.

Still other embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system including the table and at least a third scanner that is external to the table and in communication with the table. The system optionally includes one or more components of a split box production line including one or more split box makers, labeling machines, and nesting devices. The third scanner is positioned relative to the production line to read each trackable code on each of the labeled open boxes before the split boxes are nested together into a stack. The exemplary system can further include a host computing system that can upload data from the table and store the traceable codes read by the first scanner and the third scanner and by the second scan The association between the unique identifiers read by the device. In some embodiments, the host computing system also provides the traceable code to the labeler. Still further embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods for using the tables described herein to prepare pre-labeled and nested split-box containers to be deployed to harvest events, and for harvesting event data A method associated with supplying such a split box in a container.

1 shows a perspective view of a table 100 that includes a top surface 105 and components for supporting the top surface 105, such as four struts 110 as illustrated. In some embodiments, the table 100 is configured to be mobile, such as having wheels 115 on the struts 110. The table 100 can also be made mobile in other ways, such as by being placed on a tray lifter. Mobility allows the table 100 to be easily moved into or out of a packaging line as needed. The top surface 105 of the table 100 is generally flat and of the same height and is disposed at a height that facilitates the user's skill in operating a split box or other nested packaged product.

The top surface 105 is defined by two sets of opposite sides, one set of opposite sides including a front side 120 and a back side 125, and the other set of opposite sides including a left side 130 and a right side 135. The table 100 also includes a side rail 140 and a lateral rail 145. The side track 140 can be disposed on the top surface 105, adjacent to and extending generally parallel to the front side 120. As described with respect to FIG. 2, the table 100 is used to associate a traceable code on the split box with a unique identifier on the container, standing on the front side 120 of the table 100, and The split box stack is held against the side rails 140. As shown, the side rails 140 can be flush with the front side 120 or, in some embodiments, a small distance back from the front side 120.

In some embodiments, the side track 140 includes one or more calibration marks 150 to indicate one or more lengths measured from the lateral track 145, wherein each length is calibrated to a stack of known numbers of splits Boxes, such as sixty open boxes. Thus, when a stack of the number of split boxes is held against the transverse track 145, the split boxes will extend just to the calibration mark 150. The calibration mark 150 can be a line of indentations, indentations, or other suitable indicia.

The lateral track 145 can be disposed on the top surface 105 that is substantially perpendicular to the side track 140. In some embodiments, as shown, the side rails 140 and the lateral rails 145 are joined together, although in other embodiments the rails 140, 145 are separately terminated. As particularly shown in FIG. 1, the table 100 can be left hand operated or right hand operated depending on whether the lateral track 145 is disposed proximate to the left side 130 or the right side.

The table 100 also includes a member for reading a traceable code on the split box when a split box is held against the first side 160 of the transverse track 145. An example of this component is a first scanner 155. The first scanner 155 is configured to direct traceable encoding by positioning the first scanner 155 to begin at a position of the top surface 105 within the traceable encoding range when the split box is properly positioned A direction scan to read a traceable code on the split box. For example, the first scanner 155 can be disposed on the top surface 105, the first scanner 155 being adjacent to the lateral track 145. For example, the first scanner 155 can be adjustably attached to the top surface 105 such that the first scanner can be set for different openable box designs and different trackable code positions on the split box. 155 orientation. In some embodiments, the first scanner 155 is disposed adjacent one of the lateral sides 165 of the second side 165, wherein the second side 165 is opposite the first side 160.

The table 100 also includes a member (e.g., a second scanner 170) for reading a unique identifier disposed on a container disposed adjacent to the top surface 105. In the illustrated embodiment, the second scanner 170 is disposed on the top surface 105, the second scanner 170 is adjacent to the right side 135 of the table 100, and points to a position at which the container It can be placed adjacent to the top surface 105. For example, the second scanner 170 can be adjustably attached to the top surface 105 such that the orientation of the second scanner 170 is set for different container sizes and different unique identifier positions on the container.

In some embodiments, the table 100 can also include a computing system including a processing component 175, a display 180, and an input device (not shown), such as a keyboard and/or a mouse. The processing component 175 is in communication with the first scanner 155 and the second scanner 170 and selectively communicates with, for example, a host (not shown) via a wireless connection. In some embodiments, the processing component 175 can be a personal computer (PC). The processing component 175 includes logic configured to associate a unique identifier read by the second scanner 170 with one or more traceable codes read by the first scanner 155; The configuration is, for example, to store the logic of such associations in a database. In FIG. 1, the processing member 175 is shown disposed on the top surface 105, but it should be appreciated that the processing member 175 can be placed at other locations on the platform 100, such as under the top surface 105. One on the shelf (not shown).

2 is a perspective view of the table 100 of FIG. 1 and a split box stack 200 positioned against the side rail 140 and the lateral rail 145. In some embodiments, by positioning the stack 200 against the side rails 140 and the lateral rails 145, one of the top split boxes 205 of the stack 200 is suitably positioned such that it is disposed at the top split One of the trackable codes 210 on the box 205 is positioned where the traceable code 210 can be read by the first scanner 155. It will be appreciated that the tracks 140, 145 are conveniently used to properly position the stack 200 relative to the first scanner 155, but for example lines drawn on the top surface 105 may meet the same requirements.

3 through 5 illustrate front elevational views of various alternatives for positioning a container 300 of the top surface 105 adjacent the table 100 of FIG. In each of these figures, the first scanner 155 has been omitted for brevity. For example, the container can be used to hold a suitably sized cartridge of a number of split box stacks 200. In FIG. 3, the container 300 is supported on the floor adjacent to the table 100. The floor may include alignment marks to, for example, assist in the precise positioning of the container 300 such that the location of one of the unique identifiers disposed on the container 300 is the location at which the unique identifier can be read by the second scanner 170. In Figure 4, the container 300 is supported on a base 400 disposed on the floor. In FIG. 5, the container 300 is supported on an extension 500 of the table 100. Each of the alternatives illustrated in Figures 3 through 5 is for positioning the container 300 at a location where the second scanner 170 can reliably read a unique identifier on the container 300. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the second scanner 170 is disposed on the top surface 105 of the table 100, and thus the container needs to be positioned adjacent to the top surface 105 such that it is readable The unique identifier on the container 300, in other embodiments, the second scanner 170 can be positioned elsewhere, such as attached to a shelf of one of the posts 110 of the table 100 below the top surface 105 (not Illustrated), or even not on the table 100, such as on a floor adjacent to the table 100. In this other embodiment, the container 300 is positioned adjacent to the second scanner 170.

6 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system 600 that includes a table 605 (eg, table 100 (FIG. 1)) having a first scanner 610 and a second scan. 615 (eg, scanners 155 and 170 (FIG. 1)). The first scanner 610 is configured to read a traceable code 210 on a split box 205 of a split box stack 200, and the second scanner 615 is configured to A container is placed adjacent to the table 605 to read a unique identifier on the container (not shown). The table 605 further includes logic 620 (e.g., processing component 175) that communicates with the first scanner 610 and the second scanner 615 and is configured to receive data from the first scanner 610 and the second scanner 615. .

The system 600 also includes a third scanner configured to read the traceable code 210 from an individual split box 205. As shown in FIG. 6, the third scanner 625 is not disposed on the table 605, but is in communication with the logic 620 of the table 605. In operation, the traceable box 205 reads the traceable of each of the split boxes 205 by the third scanner 625 before the split boxes 205 are nested to form the stack 200 and placed on the table 605. Code 210. The third scanner 625 communicates the read traceable code 210 to the logic 620. After the trackable code 210 has been read from the split boxes 205, the split boxes can be manually or mechanically nested. In some embodiments, the system 600 further includes a split box nesting device to nest the labeled open box 205 into the stack 200.

In some embodiments, the system 600 also includes a labeling machine 630. In such embodiments, the labeler 630 is labeled by the labeler 630 to the unlabeled split box 205 before the third scanner 625 reads the traceable code 210 from the unlabeled split box 205. In this alternative, the label can be manually applied to the unlabeled split box 205 in place of a labeling machine 630. In still other embodiments, the received split boxes 205 are labeled and nested, and then un-nested and separated by the third scan prior to nesting to form the stack 200 The device 625 reads.

In various embodiments, the system 600 further includes a manufacturer 635, such as a thermoforming machine, that manufactures the split box 205. In some such embodiments, the maker 635, the labeler 630, and the third scanner 625 are arranged in series, as shown in FIG. Still further embodiments include a plurality of manufacturers 635 arranged in parallel, as depicted in Figure 7, as discussed further below. In some embodiments of the plurality of manufacturers 635, a separate labeler 630 is attached after each of the manufacturers 635, and then the flow of the labeled open box 205 is mixed into a single combined stream, and in the combined stream The split boxes 205 in the middle pass through the third scanner 625 before being nested to form the stack 200. In still other embodiments, the split boxes 205 from the plurality of manufacturers 635 are merged into a combined stream prior to being labeled and read.

In some embodiments, the system 600 can further include a host computing system 640. The host computing system 640 is configured to communicate with the logic 620 of the table via a network 645 (e.g., the Internet). In these embodiments, the logic 620 is also configured to communicate with the host computing system 640 over the network 645.

It should be appreciated that the logic 620 and the host computing system 640 need not be in continuous communication, but can communicate intermittently, such as when needed. Thus, in some embodiments, the logic 620 is configured to store data from the first scanner 610 and the second scanner 615 and, when present, selectively received from the third scanner 625 to a memory Body device (not shown). In various embodiments, the memory device can include a volatile memory (such as random access memory (RAM)) or a non-volatile memory (such as a hard disk drive). In embodiments where the logic 620 stores data received from the scanners 610, 615, and 625, the logic 620 can be further configured to store a timestamp associated with the first scanner 610 and The respective traceable codes 210 read by the third scanner 625 are associated with respective unique identifiers read by the second scanner 615. In such embodiments, the logic 620 can be further configured to associate the traceable code 210 with the timestamp and the unique identifier and time when the logic 620 is in communication with the host computing system 640. The associated pair of stamps is uploaded to the host computing system 640. In this alternative, the traceable code 210 read by the third scanner 625 can be stored according to its reading order without reference to the timestamp.

In some embodiments, the logic 620 is configured to associate the traceable code 210 read by the third scanner 625 with the unique identifiers read by the second scanner 615. In other embodiments, the host computing system 640 includes this association logic. One way of making this association is to associate a traceable code 210 read by the first scanner 610 with a unique identifier read by the second scanner 615, and then with the third scanner The unique identifiers of the plurality of split boxes 205 read by 625 are associated, for example, the plurality of traceable codes 210 read by the third scanner 625 are immediately adjacent to the special read by the first scanner 610. The codeable 210 may be tracked before or immediately after the particular trackable code 210 read by the first scanner 610. All such associations between the traceable code 210 and the unique identifier may be stored in one of the databases 650 in communication with the host computing system 640. The database can be queried by traceable coding.

For example, if the stacks 200 each include 100 split boxes 205 and the split boxes 205 are attached to the stack 200 in the order in which they are labeled and read, the third scanner 625 will first read The trackable code 210 of the split box 205 at the bottom of a stack 200 is then followed by the other 99 trackable codes 210 in the stack 200. If the traceable code 210 of the top open box 205 on the stack 200 is read later by the first scanner 610, the special one is subsequently read by the first scanner 610. Tracking code, the other 99 trackable codes 210 read by the third scanner 625 can be further associated with the unique identifier read by the second scanner 615.

All such associations between the traceable code 210 and the unique identifier may be stored by the host computing system 640 in one of the databases 650 in communication with the host computing system 640. The database can be queried by traceable encoding to find a unique identifier for a container 300 in which the open box 205 having the traceable code 210 is nested. Additionally, the same stack 200 of the target split box 205 and all of the split boxes 205 in the same container 300 can be identified. In addition, harvest event data for one or more harvest events may be further associated with the unique identifier, and thus may be sought by knowing a particular traceable code 210.

7 is a schematic diagram of one of three exemplary alternative production line configurations including a plurality of manufacturers 635 and one or more of the third scanners 625. A plurality of manufacturers 635 are desirable in the case where the manufacturers 635 are thermoformed because the steps of thermoforming the split boxes 205 are slower than the steps of labeling and reading the traceable codes from the tags.

In the top example of FIG. 7, the split boxes 205 produced by a plurality of manufacturers 635 are combined into a single stream for labeling and scanning. In the intermediate example of FIG. 7, the split boxes 205 produced by each of the plurality of makers 635 are labeled by a labeling machine 630 dedicated to such manufacturers 635, and the labelled split type The streams of box 205 are merged before the traceable codes 210 are read by the third scanner 625. In the bottom example of FIG. 7, the split boxes 205 produced by each of the plurality of makers 635 are respectively labeled by a labeler 630 and a third scanner 625 dedicated to the makers 635. And reading, and the flow of the labeled open box 205 is after the traceable codes 210 are read by the respective third scanner 625 and nested in the split boxes to form a stack Merged before 200.

8 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method 800 for associating traceable code 210 on split box 205 with a unique identifier on container 300. As noted above, although the method 800 is explicitly recited with a split box 205, the method of the present invention can be applied to other unit level packages that can be nested when empty.

The method 800 selectively begins with a step 810 of printing the traceable code 210 on a label. For example, the labels can be arranged in a sheet or on a roll. It should be appreciated that each generated traceable code 210 is unique. For example, an exemplary method for generating and printing a traceable code 210 is described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/743,648, filed on Sep. 6, 2007, and entitled "System and Method of Product Information Coding and Authentication. "System and Method for Deterring Product Counterfeiting, Diversion and Piracy", filed on February 2, 2006, to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/347,424, filed on February 2, 2006. Part of the continuation of the application and system of the method and system for the prevention of counterfeit products, transfer and illegal copying. The case claims US Patent Application No. 60/650,364, filed on February 3, 2005, entitled "System, Method and Technique For Combating Product Counterfeiting, Piracy and Diversion (Systems, Methods, and Techniques for Preventing Counterfeit Products, Illegal Reproductions and Transfers), each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, the step 810 of printing the traceable code 210 on the tag includes generating the traceable code 210 using a host computing system 640 and the same from the host computing system 640 via a network connection. The traceable code 210 is transmitted to a reliable printing device, for example, to a labeler 630. Communication between the labeler 630 and the host computing system 640 can be selectively performed by the logic 620. In other embodiments, the labels are printed at a location remote from the labeler 630 and then transferred to the labeler 630.

It will be appreciated that step 810 is an optional step because some of the methods of the present invention may be practiced using one of the pre-printed labels supplied by another entity. Step 810 is an optional step, and because in some embodiments, the tags are not used, but instead the traceable codes 210 are printed directly on the split boxes.

The method 800 also optionally includes a step 820 of fabricating the split box 205. For example, making the split box 205 can include thermoforming the split boxes 205. In some alternative embodiments, the split boxes 205 are received from a manufacturer instead of the step 820 of fabricating the split boxes 205. Here, the received split box 205, such as received, is unlabeled and not nested within the stack 200. In such embodiments, the method 800 further includes separating the same from the nested stack 200, such as receiving the split box 205 into a single piece.

The method 800 also optionally includes the step 830 of each of the plurality of split boxes 205 using a traceable code. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment comprising the step 810 of printing the traceable code on the label, step 830 includes pasting a label to each of the plurality of split boxes 205. The labeling can be performed manually or mechanically to the plurality of split boxes 205, for example using a labeling machine 630. In other embodiments, each traceable code can be printed or otherwise engraved directly on the split boxes 205. Regardless of the method of marking the split boxes 205, each trackable code 210 should be marked at the same location on each of the split boxes 205.

The method 800 also optionally includes a step 840 of reading a traceable code 210 from each of the plurality of split boxes 205. For example, the third scanner 625 can be used to perform this step because the tagged split box 205 is transported through the third scanner 625. Step 840 can further include transmitting logic 620 of the traceable code 210 from the third scanner 625 to the table 605.

Some embodiments of the method 800 including the step 830 of marking each of the plurality of split boxes 205 also include nesting the plurality of labeled split boxes together to form one of the stacked bodies 200 Step 850. In such an embodiment where the method 800 additionally includes the optional step 840 of reading a traceable code 210 from each of the plurality of split boxes 205, the step 850 is performed after the step 840.

The method 800 includes a step 860 of reading a traceable code 210 from a split box of the stack 200, and reading one of the unique identifiers disposed on a container 300, step 870. Reading the trackable code 210 from the split box of the stack 200 can include, for example, scanning the label from the split box or self-adhesive to the split box using the first scanner 155 Traceable code 210. Likewise, reading the unique identifier disposed on the container 300 can include, for example, scanning the unique identifier using the second scanner 170. The unique identifier can be printed or otherwise engraved on the container 300 or provided on a label.

The steps 860, 870 can occur sequentially or substantially simultaneously. It should be appreciated that while FIG. 2 illustrates the trackable code 210 on the top split box 205, a traceable code 210 can be placed as easily on the split box 205 at the bottom of the stack 200. . Thus, in various embodiments, step 860 can include reading the traceable code 210 from the top or bottom split box 205 of the stack 200.

In some embodiments, in step 870, a container 300 is placed adjacent to the top surface of the table 100, and a user of the table 100 provides an input to the processing component 175 of the host computing system. The unique identifier is read, and the processing component 175 controls the second scanner 170 to read and communicate the unique identifier to the processing component 175. In other embodiments, simply bringing the unique identifier into the range of the second scanner 170 will cause the second scanner 170 to read the unique identifier.

In some embodiments, in step 860, the stack 200 of the split box 205 is positioned against the side rail 140 and the lateral rail 145 such that one of the stacks 200 of the stack 200 faces the first A scanner 155. In step 860, a user of the table 100 can selectively confirm the number of split boxes 205 in the stack 200 by reference to the calibration mark 150. In some embodiments, once the unique identifier on the container 300 has been read in step 870, each time a stack 200 of the split box 205 is properly positioned on the table 100, the first The scanner 155 reads the traceable code 210 from the top split box 205 of the stack 200. In other embodiments, the traceable code 210 is read when a user of the table 100 provides an input to the processing component 175. It will be appreciated that although in step 860, 870 one or more hand-held scanners may be used to perform reading of the traceable code 210 and the unique identifier without using the table 100, one of the tables 100 The advantage is that the method 800 is more time efficient since it does not have to hold a hand-held scanner without hands-on.

In a step 880, the method 800 continues to store the traceable code 210 read from the top open box 205 of the stack 200, the traceable code 210 and the unique identifier read from the container 300. Associated. Step 880 can also include storing, by the third scanner, a traceable code 210 read from each of the open boxes 205, the traceable code 210 being associated with the unique identifier read from the container 300. In some examples, step 880 further includes uploading the traceable codes 210 read by the first scanner 610 and the third scanner 625 and the unique identifiers read by the second scanner 615 to a master Computing system 640. Step 880 can further include making the stored associations, and the associations can be selectively made by the logic 620 of the table 605 or by the host computing system 640.

After a stack 200 has been read in step 860, the stack 200 can be placed in the container 300 in a step 890. In some embodiments, the processing component 175 or the host computing system 640 includes association logic (eg, programming instructions) configured to cause the unique identifier to be followed by a unique identifier after reading the unique identifier The one or more traceable codes 210 read by the first scanner 610 are associated. In still other embodiments, the association logic can also be configured to associate the traceable code 210 read by the third scanner 625 with the unique identifier. In some embodiments, the processing member 175 provides a visual display on the display 180 to display the number of split box stacks 200 that have been associated with the container 300 and the number of further stacks 200 that need to be scanned. The container 300 is completely filled.

By having an association between the container 300 and the stack 200 of the split box in the container 300, for example, one of the labelled open box containers 300 can be scanned in a production location, and then in the container All of the traceable codes of the tagged open boxes in 300 can be further associated with harvest event data (e.g., location, date, etc. of the venue). Accordingly, in some embodiments, method 800 further includes the optional step of reading a unique identifier from a container 300 and associating harvest event data with the unique identifier.

The computing systems, computing components, and logic described herein can be configured to perform the method steps described herein, for example, by using a hardware, such as a special purpose integrated circuit (ASIC) that is specifically designed to perform the particular functions of the method. The computing systems, computing components, and logic described herein can also be configured to perform the method steps described herein, for example, by using, for example, firmware embedded in a read-only memory (ROM) or flash memory, where The firmware is programmed to perform the particular functions of the method. The computing systems, computing components, and logic described herein can be configured to perform the method steps described herein, for example, by using a processor that is capable of executing a memory resident (eg, in random access memory) Software in (RAM), wherein the computer instructions embodied in the software perform the steps of the methods of the present invention. The computing systems, computing components, and logic described herein can also include any combination of two or more of hardware, firmware, and software.

In the foregoing description, the invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments thereof, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments. The various features and aspects of the invention described above may be used individually or collectively. In addition, the present invention may be utilized in any number of environments and applications beyond the scope of the invention and the scope of the application, without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded as It should be appreciated that the terms "including", "comprising" and "having" are used in the context of an open term that is intended to be understood as a technique.

100. . . Table

105. . . Top surface

110. . . pillar

115. . . wheel

120. . . Front side

125. . . Back side

130. . . Left side

135. . . Right

140. . . Side track

145. . . Transverse orbit

150. . . Calibration mark

155. . . First scanner

160. . . First side

165. . . Second side

170. . . Second scanner

175. . . Processing component

180. . . monitor

200. . . Stack

205. . . Top open box

210. . . Traceable coding

300. . . container

400. . . Base

500. . . Extension

600. . . Exemplary system

605. . . Table

610. . . First scanner

615. . . Second scanner

620. . . logic

625. . . Third scanner

630. . . Labeling machine

635. . . Multiple manufacturers

640. . . Master computing system

645. . . network

650. . . database

1 is a perspective view of a table in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

2 illustrates a perspective view of the table of FIG. 1 having a split box stack positioned against its side and lateral tracks, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

3 through 5 illustrate an alternative to a container positioned adjacent to the top surface of the table of FIG. 1 in accordance with three exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

6 is a schematic diagram of a system including a table with one of two scanners, a third scanner disposed outside the table, and a host computing system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. ;

7 is a schematic diagram of a production line configuration including one or more third scanners in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 8 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for associating a traceable code on a split box with a unique identifier on a container.

200. . . Stack

205. . . Split box

210. . . Traceable coding

600. . . Exemplary system

605. . . Table

610. . . First scanner

615. . . Second scanner

620. . . logic

625. . . Third scanner

630. . . Labeling machine

635. . . Multiple manufacturers

640. . . Master computing system

645. . . network

650. . . database

Claims (13)

A method for associating a plurality of traceable codes, comprising: respectively marking each of a plurality of open empty boxes with a plurality of different traceable codes; and the plurality of marked open spaces The boxes are nested together to form a stack; the stack is positioned on a table such that one of the tops of the stack is open to the empty box facing the scanner placed on the table Reading, by the scanner, a first traceable code from the top open empty box; configuring an association stored between the first traceable code and a unique identifier of a container; and placing the stack In the container. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading the unique identifier from the container and associating the harvest event data with the unique identifier. The method of claim 1, wherein the association between the first traceable code read from the top open empty box of the stack and the unique identifier of the container comprises the first traceable The code and the unique identifier are uploaded to a host computing system. The method of claim 3, further comprising reading each traceable code from each of the plurality of marked open empty boxes before nesting the plurality of marked open empty boxes. The method of claim 4, further comprising uploading the traceable codes read from each of the plurality of tagged open empty boxes to the The primary computing system and the traceable codes that are read from each of the plurality of tagged open empty boxes are associated with the unique identifier. The method of claim 1, further comprising uploading the harvest event data to a host computing system and associating the harvest event data with the unique identifier of the container. A table for associating a plurality of traceable codes, comprising: a top surface; a side rail disposed on the top surface, the side rail being adjacent to and substantially parallel to a front side of the top surface Extending; a transverse track disposed on the top surface, the transverse track being substantially perpendicular to the side track; a first scanner configured to read one of the trackable codes on a split box The first scanner is held against a first side of the lateral track; and a second scanner configured to read a unique identifier disposed on a container, the second scanner Configured to be adjacent to the top surface. A table as claimed in item 7, wherein the table is configured to be portable. The table of claim 7, wherein the first scanner is configured to be adjacent to a second side of the lateral track relative to the first side. A table as claimed in item 7, wherein the direction of one of the first scanners is adjustable. A table as claimed in item 7, wherein the direction of one of the second scanners is adjustable. The table of claim 7, further comprising a configuration on the side track Calibration mark. The table of claim 7, further comprising a processing component comprising one or more configured to cause one of the unique identifiers read by the second scanner to be read by the first scanner The logic associated with the tracking code and the logic configured to store the association.